Portland pet food manufacturer ceases operations

Mars Petcare US is closing its Portland, Indiana manufacturing plant later this year. Due to reduced consumer demand profitable operation of the plant is no longer feasible and 51 employees have to be laid off.

“We constantly monitor and evaluate customer and consumer demand for products and adjust our production to meet their needs,” Mars Petcare said in a statement.

“As a result of reduced customer demand in our Exclusive Brands business and subsequent levels of utilization in our network, we will cease operations at the Portland, IN, Le Sueur, MN and Allentown, PA manufacturing sites in 2009.”

“We take seriously the long-term sustainability of our business. The decision to close the Portland, Le Sueur and Allentown facilities was a difficult one and made only after careful review and analysis,” Mars said.